How To Use Diesel Fuel To Restart And Temporarily Operate Your Oil Furnace

If you accidentally run out of heating oil and your furnace shuts down, there's no reason to panic. Below is how you can use diesel fuel to restart your furnace and keep it running until the heating oil truck can make its delivery:

Tools and materials needed

  • 20-litre fuel can

  • Funnel

  • Paper towels

  • Adjustable wrench

  • Empty soda bottle

Step-by-step procedure

1. Add diesel fuel to your tank—Take a 20-litre fuel can to a local gas station, and fill it with diesel fuel; it doesn't matter if the fuel is dyed or undyed, as either will work. Once you arrive home with the fuel, carefully pour it into your heating oil tank. If you have difficulty pouring the diesel, use an appropriately-sized funnel inserted into the fill pipe, which is the larger of the two pipes extending upward from your tank. Pour in all 20 litres of diesel fuel.

2. Identify the bleeder valve and furnace reset button—After adding diesel fuel, go inside your home and locate the oil furnace access cover. Remove it, then identify the bleeder valve and the furnace reset button. The bleeder valve will likely be brass, and it will be screwed into the oil burner assembly. As for the reset button, look for a round, red button that may or may not be marked accordingly.

3. Bleed air from the oil burner—Place two or three layers of flattened paper towels on the inside bottom of the furnace to absorb any messes. Next, position an adjustable wrench on the bleeder valve nut, then slowly turn it approximately 3 revolutions in a counterclockwise direction. Hold the plastic soda bottle so the bleeder valve nipple rests inside the bottle opening, then press the furnace reset button. Be sure the thermostat is turned on and adjusted for heat, if it isn't already.

Once the oil burner pump starts running, you will see a stream of fuel oil pour from the bleeder valve into the soda bottle. If no fuel appears, then you may need to add more diesel fuel to the tank to reach a minimum level. As fuel begins to flow from the valve, the stream will appear foamy white or pink as embedded air bubbles pass out of the fuel supply. However, the oil stream will gradually begin to turn transparent as the air bubbles are removed.

If the oil burner pump stops running during the bleed process, then press and hold the reset button until it restarts. Some furnaces will not permit you to restart the unit immediately, so wait a few moments if pressing the reset button doesn't activate the pump. Continue resetting the burner pump as often as necessary.

4. Close the bleeder valve—After the fuel oil stream is running clear, then you are ready to close the bleeder valve. Turn the valve nut clockwise until it is snug and the fuel oil stops flowing. Ensure the burner has started by feeling for heat at the top of the furnace. Finish by pouring the collected fuel oil from the soda bottle into the tank's fill pipe.

If your furnace still isn't working, call in professionals who specialize in heating, such as SDA Armstrong Mechanical Services Ltd.


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